M14 Problems: You Might Need These M14 Parts

The M14 was a selective-fire service rifle chambered around the 7.62x51mm NATO cartridge, developed in 1959 to replace the M1 Garand that troops had carried through the Second World War and Korea.

Though it was full-stocked, it was slightly lighter and shorter than the M1 Garand, and since it fired lighter, smaller cartridges, it had a larger capacity. The 7.62x51mm NATO cartridge delivered less energy downrange but produced less recoil and had a fairly flat trajectory.

Unfortunately, some have emphatically called the M14 the worst rifle ever designed. That’s harsh, but there are enough loud opinions on the matter that it has cemented a nearly universal opinion of the M14 as a flop.

To be fair, the critics make some good points. Soldiers that carried them complained of endless issues, including but not limited to poor accuracy, instability, weak receivers, poorly designed bolts and excessive headspace. Soldiers also observed that many rifles had loose op rod guides or op rods that abraded the stock on cycling and even bore diameters that were above or below official specifications.

But that’s not welcome news to those of us that shoot M14 rifles, whether competitively or just for the enjoyment of range therapy. We’re here to provide you with the M14 parts you need to keep your rifle operational - not convince you to start shooting something else.

Here are some common problems with M14 rifles and what parts you’ll need to rectify the issue. Some repairs you may be able to make yourself, but when in doubt, take your rifle to a qualified gunsmith.

M14 Parts You’ll Need to Solve Common Problems
Problems like poor ergonomics or the fact that the rifle may lack adequate space for optics unfortunately cannot be solved by replacing M14 parts. These are central to the design of the rifle.

However, issues with accuracy, feeding, firing, and cycling can potentially be rectified by cleaning or replacing affected parts. Start with this and if you’re still experiencing issues, give us a call.

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●Poor accuracy
The M14 typically offered accuracy between 3 and 4 MOA, which is horrendous for a precision rifle but not terrible for a generic service rifle intended for infantry. If you’re shooting precise loads and accuracy is still worse than that, there’s a possibility that you could have picked up one of those M14s with bore diameters that were too high or too low.

Now, to be clear, you’re never going to convert an M14 into a match-grade rifle capable of sub-MOA groups. If you do call us and tell us how you did it. Otherwise, you may be able to dial in your groups a little bit further by replacing the barrel.

Remove it and take a bore light to it; if the rifling is worn down, you’re going to need to replace it anyway. If everything looks clear, your crowning may be damaged or, as stated, you might have a low-quality barrel. Swap it out and see if it makes a difference.

●Slam-firing
Slam firing is a rare enough problem, but if you experience it make sure you’re using the proper ammunition. If you are, there’s a chance that the headspace on your rifle is not set properly. In this situation, it may be possible to fix the issue by adjusting the barrel; this is best done by a gunsmith who can also check to ensure that headspace is set properly.

●Rifle not firing
A rifle might not fire for many reasons. One could be excessive headspace (see above) but that would also likely cause issues with feeding.

Other reasons the rifle might not fire are failure of the action to engage or a broken firing pin. If the firing pin is broken, you can replace the bolt which should solve the issue.

Firing pins break on their own after a while, but dry firing is also a common cause, so if you ever break a firing pin make sure you stop dry-firing after that.

●Op rod is loose/cycling inconsistent
Issues with loose op rods can cause a wide range of problems for the M14, ranging from inconsistent cycling to premature wear on the stock.

In this instance, replacing the op rod alone might not solve the problem because the new rod might just cause the same issues. You may need to take the rifle to a gunsmith.

Other problems with cycling or bolt closure might result from a dirty action. If the piston is dirty or the piston-nut is loose, the rifle will not cycle reliably. Fouling accumulation can also cause sluggish feeding.

Your gun might need cleaning more than it needs new M14 parts. Before replacing the op road, bolt, piston, or magazine, take the rifle apart, clean off all of the fouling and see if it resumes feeding.

Not Sure What M14 Parts You Need? Call Us!
We carry a wide range of M14 parts running the gamut from stocks to gas cylinders and hardware. Whether you’re looking for parts for the original M14 or a variant like the M14 M1A or even a modern accessory like a flash suppressor, we can help you out.

If you’re not sure what the problem is with your M14 or you don't know what parts you need, contact us by phone at 610-250-3960 or visit us in Easton, Pennsylvania and our experts will assist.